Memoirs of a Generally Bitter Young Woman
"The highs and lows of life"
Nonsensical stories interlaced with tidbits of truth, irony and poetry.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Patriotism swells in the heart of the American Bear

Today's musical selection is one of my most favorite soundtracks of all time... keep reading for my reasons why:

The Muppet Movie:

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Rainbow Connection

Movin' Right Along

Never Before, Never Again!

Never Before, Never Again! [Instrumental]

I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along!

Can You Picture That?

I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along! [Instrumental]

I'm Going to Go Back There Someday

America

Animal...Come Back Animal

Finale: The Magic Store

I can't even begin to guess when it was that I first listened to this album. Was it on a record the first time, or cassette? Was I old enough to appreciate it, or even old enough walk? The Muppet Movie was released into theaters June 22, 1979. I wasn't even six months old. I remember having this soundtrack on Cassette my whole life. My sister Jessica and I listened to that thing to death. I'm still in possession of this cassette, but I'm not sure it would work if I tried it. I have spent many years wishing I had this on CD, wishing I could listen to the fantastic songs. To hear Rowlf the Dog sing "I Hope That Somethin' Better Comes Along." I longed for Miss Piggy's love ballad "Never Before, Never Again!" When ever I think of "Can You Picture That" I just hear Animal's voice in my head repeating the name of the song. I seriously tear up whenever I hear "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday."

My favorite song on this entire soundtrack is "America" with Fozzie the Bear and his version of 'America the Beautiful." John has asked me several times over the last little while: "Why is that your favorite?" And my answer is simply: "It just is." I'm a softie and a Patriot at heart. (Heck, the Star Spangled Banner makes me cry.) So this song just gets me. I think that out of all the versions I have ever hears THIS one is my favorite.

There are so many great songs on this short little album there are only 9 songs with lyrics, but they are all memorable. Ah! the wonders of this album ... and I have gone so many years without it. The album was released on to CD in 1993 and is no longer in print. I have looked, (not very hard apparently) for this album to buy for years, but every copy I had been finding was priced $65 and up. recently I was searching some of my favorite MP3 download sites and found a couple of songs from this movie that inspired me to look for this CD again. Call me crazy, but I like having physical copies of my music. I love the feeling of having a solid possession in my hands. Eventually after searching I found a Canadian who would sell me the CD for $16... Really? $16? I was shocked, but I bought it because I could. (I've found it elsewhere since my purchase: see below) It came in the mail pretty darn quick, and I'm sure my face was a site upon opening it. I could feel the smile from ear to ear as I pulled it out of the envelope. Who knew something so simple could make me so happy.

This album reminds me of being a kid and running free in the field behind my house, of summer time bike rides, tree trolls, Barbie soap operas, playing outside until dark, snow caves, mud fights, purple carpet, giant's toes, cassette players, camcorder documentaries, and thousands of other childhood memories.

You can find it to buy HERE ... Or to Download (for free)HERE. (I can't vouch for either of these links/providers...) Or... you can just talk to me, maybe I can hook you up. :)

1 comment:

The muppett movies were some of the very first movies we bought with our Disney Movie Club membership. Also, The Muppet Show is one of Owen's favorite shows right now, that and Batman and Dinosaur Train.

Books I Have Read

My Evil Minions

Things I've Learned/Interesting Facts:

Just because you stop at a stop light doesn't mean the car behind you will.

My husband frequently mocks me because I didn't cry at my wedding, but I cried when the Lone Gunmen died on the X-Files.
I hate being sued because as long as it's an open case I can't share the really good zingers I come up with...Sometimes I miss Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch.

Quotes I Love:

"It's not about charity, it's about justice." - Bono

"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone. " - Mitt Romney

Up to a point, a man’s life is shaped by environment, heredity, and movements and changes in the world about him; but there comes a time when it lies within his grasp to shape the clay of his life into the sort of thing he wishes it to be. Everyone has it within his power to say, this I am today, this I shall be tomorrow.” - Louis L’Mour"You can't surrender to melancholy; that's too easy. Joy is a subject I go on and on about. It's one of the only emotions you can't contrive. It's impossible. Despair and anger are easier to convey. Joy is right next to happiness, which is not so interesting, and sentimentality. Great rock 'n' roll, the raw stuff, is pure joy. It's that sense of being alive, of being grateful for your pulse." - BONO"Because we live in a world where there is much harshness, hostility and meanness, there is also much need for all of us to be more merciful." - Gordon B. Hinckley